New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-09-14
THE CONSTITUTIONAL CELEBRATION

THE CONS1IICIONAL CELbDhhh 1o4'.
The ceremonies and displays In Phia-
dclphia this week viii be regarded with
patriotic good feeling throughout the entire
country They will also arouse American
enthusiasm, which has shown itself upon
MANY occasions to be both ardent and prac-
teal The amazing progress which has Deen
made since our first century OF National iifo
began is only appreciable by direct contrasts
in all the countless departments OF human
activity which contribute to our civilization
between their conditions then and now.
Americans cannot help but enjoy the contcm-
plation of these contrasts. 1t would be a
false modesty which profesScd no pride In
them and dead soul which failed to derive
from them the highest confidence in our
system Of self-government and the liyeliest
personal satisfaction in the part he has taken
as one of a sovereign people
No inconsderable part Of the advantage that
will result from this celebration may be ex-
pscted to come from the historic interest ~
will excite in the event of one hundred years
ago. 1t has often and properly been said that
we did not as a Nation sufficiently magnify
this anniversary and that it should be placed
in our civil calendar of celebrated days. All
civilization has borne witness to the wonder
full work accomplished in the Constitutional
Convention, and its unimpaircd endurance
throughout an entire century, during which
time its provisions have been threatened only
TO be rendered the more inviolablc, has proven
the slrest test OF its greatness. Older Nations
have praised its eminent wisdom. Younger
ones have demonstrated their faith in it by
adopting it substantially rs their own charters
Of authority, and we have steadily justified
this praise by Loyalty supporting and unillnch-
ingly defending it, so that it remains to-day
with no line Of its original text altered
abridged or repealed Its potency has never
been suffered to diminish and the prc-eminent
esteem in which it is held by our sister
Nations is n tribute not more to the wisdom
Of the fathers who framed it than to the
sturdy faith and superb valor of their sons
whose tongues and pens and swords have de-
Tended and maintained it,
We should not seem by ncglccting the out
ward marks of affection for the Constitution
to be lacking in patriotic enthusiasm. No
boy should be allowed TO leave the public
schools to enter upon his duties as citizen
without knowing its provisions. He should be
enabled to read the events Of American
history from the day the colonies proclaimed
their independence down to his own times IN
the light Of their relation to its plan and
authority. He should learn from the country:
experience under the early Confederation, BY
the debates in the State Lcgis aturcs which
adopted the remedy proposed in the "mor'
perfect union" by the march Of American
Improvement under its bcnciccnt influence
by the rebellion that conspircd to drag u
under foot, by the hcroism and sacrifices
which arraycd themselves for its vindioatIor
| and by its final triumph over all foes whether
within or without-he should learn from these
events how to guard his liberty thus dcarl,
obtained and preserved, and how cordially
| To hate all the tendencies that assail the in
| strumcnt which is the best guarantee OF hi
| happiness.